Washing away postdecisional dissonance

Science. 2010 May 7;328(5979):709. doi: 10.1126/science.1186799.

Abstract

After choosing between two alternatives, people perceive the chosen alternative as more attractive and the rejected alternative as less attractive. This postdecisional dissonance effect was eliminated by cleaning one's hands. Going beyond prior purification effects in the moral domain, physical cleansing seems to more generally remove past concerns, resulting in a metaphorical "clean slate" effect.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attitude
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Cognitive Dissonance*
  • Female
  • Hand Disinfection*
  • Humans
  • Male